Sometimes I Feel Guilty on Active Rain

OK, OK, OK....I was a neophyte.  Actually, I still am.  My co-workers made fun of me.  My wife thought that it was stupid and a waste of time. 

Write blog and comment on other people's posts?  Why?  What for?  Go write a deal she'd say.  I told her that I'd do this on my time, not work time, but I just wanted to see if I could become number 1 in my town and meet some people.  Then the addiction began to set in.  I developed some nice relationships and started to move up in my county.  The relationships grew, but still not one stinkin referral to me.  My wife was right and my co-workers patted me on my head and said "go get em Fido."  Pretty soon I was on page one for Illinois.  You know the rest...had to be top 10, top 5, and yes, now #1.  Truthfully, the points were a just a bi-product or a motivator, but it wasn't my driving force.  Points helped me keep focused in the dry times.  It was imporant to have little targets while I tried to build recognition and relationships. 

For the first 100,000 points, the referral well was dry as the sahara desert.  I seriously considered dropping, but then I thought that I'd GOOGLE myself and found that I was actually someone in the world of cyberspace real estate. 

Long story short,

THERE IS A FORMULA THAT IS PRECISE AND WORKS WELL ON ACTIVE RAIN. 

A FORMULA EXISTS, but I'd bet that those who are good with this formula are pretty dang good with real estate referrals even without Active Rain.  But if you're good in real estate and can follow this formula, you can build a business that really pops in the rain.

FOR THE RECORD, I RECEIVED MY 30TH REFERRAL FROM ACTIVE RAIN OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND!

A couple of things to tidy up here.  First, I never said that I had my 30th closing.  Second, it wasn't my 30th lead....it was my 30th qualified referral.  These are real leads.  It's so encouraging.  It's so fun.  Here's the deal....the success has driven me to amend my business plan for 2009.  My business plan never had blogging as any work of value, although, in my mind it did provide me with more exposure.  Now, I've budgeted so that I fully expect to close 12 to 15 deals in 2009 from Active Rain.  This, my friends, is a change in my M.O. or Modus Operandi. 

So Why the guilt?  I see these posts that say:

"gee whiz, I sure wish that I could get a referral off of Active Rain." 

"You're just a great writer, that's why you get referrals.  I suck at that stuff."

"It'd never work in our market."

and the list goes on.

So does Active Rain actively rain in deals?  Does a car run with gasoline in it?  Of course it does.  But the trick is that you need to put the gas in for it to run.  It doesn't run on it's good looks (although there are those that think that I get by on my pure GQ looks...not!).  If you change your oil, rotate your tires, get tune ups and fill the tank with gas, you'll be able to get somewhere, but some people don't even put the key in the ignition you know. 

Quit B.S.ing Bettag....is there a concrete formula or not?  ABSO-FRIGGIN-LUTELY!!!!! 

HERE IT IS!!!!

1)  FILL OUT YOUR PROFILE COMPLETELY - You can take weeks to do it, but give the audience who your writing to something to grasp at.  I've read some great posts and when I click on their profile...NOTHING!!!!  Are you a one post wonder or is there more to you besides that one post?

2)  POST - Here's a novel concept.  I've seen people either just join and never post.  But it's hard for people to find you if you don't post.  Or I've seen people post a couple of times and......"poof" they're gone.  One of my best realtors ever said, "out of sight, out of mind."  Couldn't be more true for others dancing in the rain who need to find you and for those who are looking for your services in the internet world.  How's this.....POST OR PERISH!!!!!

3)  COMMENT ON OTHER POSTS - Here's the deal....It can't be a one way street. RELATIONSHIP by it's very definition implies a two way street.  Both people are engaged.  You don't have to like everyone, but you need to engage with some.  If you engage, the relationships that are meant to succeed will succeed over time. 

4)  POST FOR TRANSPARENCY -  This is the largest sin that I see on Active Rain.  Rainers will just post listings.  Or they'll just post business.  I try to mix my ratio that only one of every four posts are about business.  Others are educational.  Others are about life, family, friends and events.  Others are on things that I feel passionate about.  Also, I see people trying to put out an image out there.  Here's the gig in my posting life.....my friends know my good and bad.  They still like me.  When I post, I post my truths.  I drive some away and I attract others.....You know something....THAT'S OK.  I want to hang with people who like me and people who I like.  I'll only know...if and only if I see the real you.  Post for Transparency!

5)  BE PERSISTENT - I guarantee you if you follow the prior 4 steps you'll get there if you proceed with persistence. In case people haven't heard even though I've said it a lot....I didn't get my first referral until I hit the 100,000 point mark.  The dam started to leak and at about the 150 or so mark the dam began to crumble.  The leads are pouring in. 

Be in the game to win.  Just because you haven't had a referral since joining Active Rain, doesn't mean that you won't get one.  Sitting on the bench doesn't mean that you won't play either.  But you need to be ready.  In sports, that means you need to be trained and alert and ready.  In cyberspace you show you're ready by spending a little time each day engaging and showing others that you're ready to serve them.  Be transparent...have fun and expect something great to happen.